A Hesitant Thanks
"...."
"..."
How do I fix this atmosphere?
After that, the hot spring bath ended without any further incidents. We moved the meal the inn staff had left at the door to the table, and even after we'd emptied every bowl, Scarlet and I barely managed a proper conversation. Whenever I tried to speak, her short replies quickly brought back that awkward silence.
Like this.
"The food turned out pretty good. Does it suit your taste?"
"Yeah... it's fine."
"That's a relief. Was there anything you liked the most?"
"...Everything was just... fine."
"..."
She didn't seem upset, but maybe my earlier words outside had made her uncomfortable. If that was the case, pushing the conversation would only make things worse. Checking the time, I realized the morning counseling session had just ended.
"It's a shame, but time's up. I'll head out now. Let's pick this up again tomorrow."
"...Okay."
We'd already finished eating, and the next session was right across the hall, so there was no rush. Still, this awkward air clearly needed time to settle, so I stood up.
"Ah, if you feel like another dip in the hot spring, feel free to enjoy it. The staff will bring more food when it's time..."
"Wait...!"
Just as I was about to leave after saying what needed to be said, Scarlet suddenly called out. She was still sitting at the table where we'd eaten, her gaze fixed downward. It was strange that she wouldn't even look at me after calling me over, but since she'd initiated, I turned back.
"Yes, it's fine. Go ahead."
I let go of the half-open door and faced her fully. For once, I saw her hesitating.
"Scarlet?"
"...Now that I think about it, I forgot."
"?"
She finally lifted her head, but her eyes couldn't meet mine properly—they wavered unsteadily. Even so, she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then looked straight at me and spoke.
"Thank you... for saving me. I never said that, did I?"
"..."
For a second I just stood there blankly. Then I felt the corners of my mouth twitch upward and quickly covered them with my hand. So that was why she'd been acting like a guilty puppy, constantly glancing at me... Haha.
"If you ever need help with anything again... please rely on me."
"..."
"I'd be really happy if you did."
After that, she lowered her head back to the table and said nothing more. I quietly closed the door behind me. Once I was in the hallway where no one could see, I clenched my fists and let out silent cheers over and over.
I'd stayed in Scarlet's room a little longer than planned, but there was still time before the afternoon session. However...
"...What's this?"
When I stepped into the hallway, I noticed an untouched meal tray sitting in front of No.13's door. It looked like her lunch. Maybe the sudden change in environment had affected her appetite? The food hadn't gone cold yet, so perhaps she simply hadn't heard the staff's knock.
I picked up the tray and carefully opened the door. The afternoon session was still a while away. No.13 wasn't in the living room. Wondering if she'd already gone to the hot spring, I set the tray on the table and checked the courtyard first. Then I felt a presence and turned toward the bedroom.
"..."
I couldn't help but ask.
"What... are you doing?"
"..."
No.13 had dragged the bedding all the way to the corner of the room and wrapped herself up like a cocoon, curled into a tight ball. Only her eyes peeked out, warily watching the entrance. For a moment I wondered if she was playing a prank, but her gaze told me otherwise. Even when I walked right up to her, her eyes stayed fixed on the door.
"Aren't you hungry? The staff prepared this meal for you. It was really good."
"..."
"If you're just not used to the new place yet..."
She's trembling.
"Excuse me for a moment."
I knelt beside her and gently pulled the blanket away from her face. She didn't resist. Her expression was one I hadn't seen since the very first week of counseling—terrified, shaking violently. Even her mental voice was faint and hard to catch.
"...Sorry... I'm... sorry..."
'That... woman's... voice...'
That woman? Her voice...? Was she talking about Scarlet? Or... Gabriel? Had Gabriel tried to descend while I was away?
Concerned that something serious might have happened, I leaned closer to listen. But her trembling lips couldn't form proper words, and the only mental voice I could hear kept repeating the same sentence.
'I don't want to go back... I don't... want to go back again...'
*
Taking a hot spring bath right after work has a certain charm to it. Today's counseling with No.13 had regressed back to square one, leaving my head a mess, but at least I could feel relieved knowing Gabriel hadn't contacted her through the Stigma. That meant the cause was Scarlet. What exactly had happened between them...?
Getting her to calm down through our mental link, lay down, and fall asleep had been difficult enough when she refused to eat or talk and just trembled in that cramped position. Since she'd skipped lunch, I really wanted her to eat dinner. Even when I brought the food right in front of her, she wouldn't touch it. The only thing that worked was sitting beside her and feeding her by hand—but even then, she just held everything in her mouth without chewing or swallowing. Eventually I had to give up.
I asked the staff to prepare a new meal that could be eaten cold, left it beside her, and came out. Tomorrow morning, before Scarlet's session, I should stop by No.13's room first to check on her.
When our minds connected through my ability, what I felt wasn't hatred or hostility, but something closer to complete powerlessness. Yet that clearly conflicted with the fact that she'd broken into the facility to save her colleague Scarlet and even taken me hostage.
"Ah."
While lost in thought, something white flickered at the edge of my vision. I looked up and spotted Observer a short distance away, walking ahead. Unlike Founder, she had properly wrapped a towel around her still-maturing body. Her long, snow-white hair trailing along the floor was what had caught my eye earlier.
That flawless white skin, white eyebrows and lashes, and even white pupils... Every time I see her, she really does look like a doll. Maybe it's not just her appearance—the lack of emotion on her face and her flat, cold voice add to that impression.
"I didn't expect to run into you here, Counselor."
She must have noticed me too, because she stopped and turned her head slightly.
Her greeting was unexpected.
"I thought Observer would know everything."
I'd heard she was the one who found me while I was hiding my abilities, and that she'd advised me to finish counseling with Undine quickly before this incident occurred. It seemed strange that someone who supposedly observed everything—even the future—would say she hadn't expected to see me here. But she responded with a short sigh, as if to tell me my thoughts were just overthinking.
"Sigh... It's not that I couldn't see it. I just didn't look. You can check the local newspaper from the other side of the world on the internet, but you don't read it every single morning, do you?"
"...Right."
She had a point. To Observer, I was probably just another piece of local news from the opposite side of the globe. No particular interest or curiosity. Haha...
"More importantly, my sister has been spending a lot of time around you lately."
"Did I perhaps take away time you two usually spend together...?"
"...What are you talking about? I was going to say you're doing well. I don't dislike my sister, but she clings too much."
I could relate to the part about her clinging too much. Once she latched on, she was hard to shake off, and she was incredibly strong.
"Come to think of it, I was late in thanking you, Observer."
"Thanking me? For what?"
"Thanks to your advice, I was able to survive that last incident. I wanted to tell you how grateful I am."
If she hadn't advised me to finish counseling with Undine quickly, the mini Undine wouldn't have hidden inside my body, and I wouldn't have survived that scene. In a way, she was my lifesaver. But even at my sincere thanks, she only gave a dry, uninterested response.
"I merely pointed out one path. The one who walked it without losing direction was you. And if you need to thank someone, it's not me who—"
"What are you two talking about?"
"...Eek?"
A cheerful voice suddenly cut in from right behind me, appearing out of nowhere like it had risen from the floor. It was enough to startle me. Observer, instead of continuing, simply turned and walked away as if this was for the best. The reason was obvious—the person now standing behind me was Founder.
"What were you talking about? Let me join in too... Where did my sister go?"
Observer had already escaped in the commotion.
"She ran off again... So what were you talking about with my sister?"
"Nothing special...?"
"Really? Then let's leave it at that."
Surprisingly, she didn't press further. With a giggle, she walked around in front of me. Once again, she was dressed in an outfit optimized for bathing.
"W-why are you naked again? At least wrap a towel around yourself like Observer!"
"More importantly, you haven't forgotten the promise you made this morning, have you? I've been waiting this whole time."
The promise from this morning? Ah... She meant the one about properly petting her after counseling. First, though, I'd really appreciate it if she covered herself...
I had no choice but to look away.
"Ugh..."
"I think my sister would like it too... but she always runs away like this."
"Observer...? Really...?"
I couldn't quite picture her enjoying being petted. It would be a miracle if she didn't swat my hand away while asking what I was doing.
"Hehe... Something this nice..."
In the end, I followed her into the bath, did my best to pet Founder's head while she clung tightly to me, and only after washing all of her long hair was I finally free.